Fire-extinguisher.



A. L. HANSEN.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1914.

2 06mm" AW L Han Wtbness 6-5 ByW M air AUGIE L. HANSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AS SIGNOB, TO JUSTRITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. "1, 1915.

Application filed March 30, 1914. Serial No. 828,111.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGIE L. HANSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire extinguishers, particularly to that class in which a piston is operated to eject the liquid contents from a suitable container.

Fire extinguishers heretofore used are open to several objections. One objection is that the arrangement, particularly of the piston driving mechanism, is such that the stream cannot be accurately and-efficiently directed on a fire.

One of the important objects of my in vention is therefore to provide such construction and arrangement that the extinguisher can be securely held and the piston driving mechanism actuated without disturbing the aim and thereby causingaccw rate directing and maintaining of thestream where desired.

Another objection in prior extinguishers is that the stream ejected cannot be readily kept continuous and uniform, and another important object of my invention is therefore to provide construction and arrangement which in addition to enabling accurate directing of the stream will cause the stream to be long, continuous, uniform. and powerful.

My invention also involves other improved features including an imperforate non-leaking piston, improved means for restoring the piston after a discharging operatiornand improved and simplified construction and arrangement of the various operating elements.

The various features of my invention will be fully understood by reference to the ac companying drawings in 'which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved extinguisher, Fig. 2 is a side view taken at right angles to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on plane 33, Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on plane 14, Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a view from the left ofFig. 3 of the restoring mechanism, Fig. 6 is an inside view of modified crank mechanism, and Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same with parts broken away.

The extinguisher shown comprises a cylinder 1 formed of brass or other suitable material which has at one end a cap 2, said.

- and above the threads is the polygonal enlargement 12. Within the cap is a yoke frame 13 having the internally threaded extension 13 extending into the opening 5 to receive the threaded end 11 of the nozzle, the enlargement 12 of the nozzle abutting firmly against the cap and sealing the opening 5 when the end 11 is screwed into the yoke and the yoke being then held in upper position.

Extending through the limbs of the yoke is a shaft 1 1 whose outer ends are provided with openings for receiving guide members 15 and 16 shown in the form of screws threading into lugs 17 and 18 cast or formed on the inner wall of cap 2. Rotatably mounted on shaft 14.- is a winding drum 19 to whichis secured a worm gear 20. EX- tending through the cap at angles to the shaft 11 is a shaft 21 mounted in bearings 22 formed in the cap side wall, one end of the shaft extending outwardly to receive a crank 24. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this crank isrigidly secured to the shaft by means of a'screw 25.

- The shaft 21 has thereon a worm 26 adapted to mesh with the worm gear 20 when the yoke frame 13 is locked in its upper position by the nozzle end 11. However, when the nozzle is withdrawn and the yoke frame released, this frame will drop until the shaft 14 engages the head of screws .15 and 16 and the worm wheel 20 will then be displaced from and. out of driven engagement with the worm 26. lVhen the yoke frame is in this lower position its extension 13 will still project a sufficient distance into the opening 5 to hold the frame perpendicular. The piston 27 shown comprises a leather cup 28 whose base is clamped between and strengthened by metal plates 29 and 30, the plates being preferably riveted together as by rivets 31. In order to p e nt tilting o lar 50 secured to the'shaft'42, the arrangeinent of the teeth being such that the shaft wedging of the piston guide tongues 29 are extended from the plate 29. The plate 30 also provides anchorage for a rivet shaped member 32 whose head engages below the plate 30 and to whose shank one end of cable 33 is secured in any desired manner.

theother end of this cable being secured to se'cured'in the ends .36 of the yoke frame v I and extending around the drum to the point 15.

indicated by 57, Fig. 4. The plate 29 forms anchorage for a sheave frame 88 whose inner end has a head for engaging behind the plate 29 and whose outer end is bifurcated and pivots a sheave 39 forming part of the piston restoring mechanism. In order to accommodate the heads of the members 32 and 38 between the base of piston 28 and the respective plates 30 and 29, these plates are deflected at their centers as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The members may have loose swivel anchorage or they may be rigidly secured to the plates as by soldering or brazing. The rivets '31 are preferably soldered or brazed to the plates 29 and 30 in order to prevent any leakage past or through the piston structure. 7

Passing over the sheave 39 is the cable 40 whose one end is secured to a reel 41 mounted on the shaft 42, which shaft is journaled in bearings formed in the side Walls or the cap 44 at the lower end of the cylinder. This cap 44 is also preferably detachably secured to the cylinder as by means of its threads'45 and the threads 46' on the cylinder. Concentric with the shaft 42 the cap'has the recess 47 for accommodating the wheel 48 for operating shaft 42 and the reel thereon. L This wheel has the flange 49 which extends diametrally to provide a convenient finger hold for effecting rotation of the wheel. The hub of the Wheel receives the outer-end of shaft 42 and has laterally extending ratchet teeth 48 thereon for cooperating with the ratchet teeth on the col- 42 can be rotated by the wheel 48 in direction' only toeffect rotation of the drum to Wind up the cable 40, reverse movement of the wheel causing separation of the ratchet teeth and mere idle movement of the wheel 'on'its shaft. The purpose of this is to prevent unwinding rotation of the wheel by ro- "tation of wheel 48 in order that the cable 40 cannot be caused to slacken or tangle. V Surrounding the reel 41 in positlon to abut against the cable turns thereon 1s an abutment member in the form of a' ring or loop 52 to which the other end of cable 40 is secured as indicated at 53, the end of the cable coming from the reel being guided over a sheave 51 j ournaled on the ring me1n her as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and The ring member is held in the plane of the reel turns by the reel sides 57 and 58 and when the reel is turned in winding direction the ring member is forced outwardly by the ac cumulating cable turns on the reel and thus both ends of the cable 40 are pulled away from the piston structure and the piston structure can be quickly restored after a discharging operation. As the engagement of the worm 26 with the worm wheel 20 is a self-locking one these parts must of course be first disengaged before the piston can be restored and such disengagement is effected, as before described by withdrawing the ejecting nozzle to release the yoke frame 13.

In the extinguisher thus far described the only operating parts at the exterior of the container are the crank 24 and the wheel 48. but neither of these parts is capable of giving any indication of the location of the pistons within the cylinder or of the quantity of contents therein. It is, however. very desirable to know these facts in order that the user can ascertain at any time just how much liquid is available in the extinguisher. So far as I am aware any such indication has never been provided for in extinguishers in which the visible actuating elements are incapable of giving such indication.

The particular mechanism which I show for giving the referred to indication is clearly shown in, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The ring member 52 already described is shifted by the increasing or decreasing turns on the reel 41. When the piston is at the reel end 1.: :1

of the cylinder, and the drum mechanism at the discharge end is operated, the piston is shifted toward the discharge end and the resulting pull on the cable 40 is communicated tothe reel and to the ring 52. The reel is therefore unwound and the ring is held against the cable turns on the reel and moves toward the reel axis as the turns decrease. When the piston is to be restored after a discharge operation the reel is posi tively rotated by means of wheel 48 to re- Wind the cable 40 thereon. The pull on the cable is communicated to ring 52 which is held a ainst the cable turns and is shifted away rom the reel axis as the turns accumulate. The movement of ring member 52 is thus proportional to the movement of the piston in the cylinder and I therefore extend an indicating arm 54 from the ring through the opening 55 in the cap 44 and I provide the extension 56 on the cap across Which the end of the arm travels. This extension 56 may be provided with scale markings so that the position of the end of the arm 54 with reference to these scale divisions will accurately indicate the location of the piston within the cylinder. When the piston is at the end of the cylinder adjacent cap it the point of arm 5twill be at the outer end of the scale, and as the crank 24 is turned and the piston drawn toward the discharge nozzle the location of the end of arm 5st on the scale will indicate therelative location of the piston during its entire travel. The user of the extinguisher can thus ascertain at any time the quantity of contents left therein. The

user will immediately know when the 6X1 tinguisher is empty and he will not strain the working parts and if the fire is not out he can take another extinguisher.

When the extinguisher is to be filled the nozzle is first removed to release the yoke frame 13 and thereby the drum 19 in order that the reel l1 can be operated to draw the piston to the other end of the cylinder, engagement of extension 13 in the opening 5 holding the yoke frame perpendicular. The cylinder is then filled through opening 5 and the nozzle again applied and the yoke drawn up to bring the drum gear 20 into mesh With the worm gear 26. When it is desired to use the extinguisher it is supported in the arm and against the body, the one hand grasping the discharge end at the nozzle to direct the stream ejected when the crank is turned by the other hand, and continuous turning of the crank will cause a continuous, uniform and powerful stream to flow which can be directed with great ac curacy to any point desired. The hand grasping the discharge end to direct the stream can also manipulate the valve 10 to control the volume of the stream. By observing the arm 51 and the scale the location of the piston in the cylinder and conse quently the quantity of the contents can be quickly determined.

As the piston ejecting drum mechanism is all localized in the detachable cap 2, and as the piston restoring mechanism is all localized in the detachable cap ea, the various parts can be readily assembled in the caps before application of the caps to the cylinder, and dismantling of the extinguisher for inspection or repairs can be accomplished with equal facility.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the crank 2% is shown rigidly secured to the worm shaft 21. In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modified and perhaps preferable arrangement in which the actuating lever or crank 59 has ratchet connection with the shaft 21. As shown, the lever 59 is rotatably mounted on the shaft and carries a pawl 60 for cooperating with the ratchet wheel 61 secured to the shaft, a spring 62 urging the pawl against the ratchet wheel. The arrangement of the pawl is such that the shaft 21 can be rotated by the crank lever in direction only to effect winding up movement of the drum. This is desirable in that the lever is prevented from reverse rotation which would result in unwinding and tangling of the cable 33. There might also be conditions where it would be impossible to completely revolve the crank lever, as for example where the nozzle would have to be projected through a small hole toward the fire. In such case the ratchet arrangement would allow the crank to be given only part revolutions. In order to protect the ratchet wheel and pawla guard flange 63 may be provided on the crank lever. 1

I do not of course desire to be limited to the precise structures, arrangements and operations herein referred to as modifications are no doubt possible which would still come within the scope of the invention.

I claim the following:

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a contamer, a piston within said container, piston operating means within said container at one end thereof and controlling means therefor at the exterior of the container, piston restoring means within the container at the other end thereof and controlling meanstherefor at the exterior of the container, and means to free said piston from either of said controlling means.

2. A device of the character described, comprising the combination of a container, a piston, a drum at each end of the container, each drum being connected by a cable to said piston, operating mechanism for each drum, and means to release said operating mechanisms from engagement with said drums.

3. A device of the character described, comprising the combination of acylinder, a cap at one end thereof, a piston movable therein, a discharge nozzle on the cap, a drum rotatably mounted in said cap, a worm gear secured to said drum, a worm adapted to engage the teeth of said gear, a shaft secured to said worm, crank mechanism mounted on the side of said container which engages said shaft, and means to free the worm from engagement with the worm gear teeth.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination with a container of a piston mounted therein, means to move said piston in either direction, actuating mechanism to engage said moving means mounted at each end of said container, and means to disen gage the actuating mechanism at either end when the piston is moved away from it.

5. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with a container having a discharge nozzle at one end, of a piston shiftable in said container to discharge the contents thereof through said nozzle, winding means at the discharge end of said container connected with said piston, and crank mechanism at the side of the container at the discharge end thereof for effecting continuous operation of scribed, the

in the container adjacent .terior of said winding mechanism and discharge of the containercontents in a continuous stream.

6.111 a fire extinguisher of the class decombination of a container havinga discharge outlet, a piston reciprocable within saidcontainer, a drum mounted withthe outlet thereof and a cable extending from said drum to saidpiston, manually operable crank mech anism at the exterior of said container at the dischargeend thereof, and a transmission train connecting between said crank mechanism and drum to cause slow and powerful and continuous rotation of said drum and travel of said piston when said crank mechanism is operated. A v

7. In afire extinguisher of the class de scribed, the combination of a container having a discharge outlet, apiston within said container, a crank at ,the exterior of said container at the discharge thereof, and

means Within said container connecting between said crank and piston and adapted upon rapid manual operation of the crank to effect slow and powerful and continuous movement of the piston to eject, the contents of the container under considerable pressure. 8. In a fire extinguisher of the class described, the combination of a container having a discharge outlet, a pistonreciprocable therein, a drum at each end of the container and each drum connected by a cable with said piston, and operating mechanism for each drum.

9. In a fire extinguisher of the class described, the combination of piston within said container, means within said container at one end thereof connected with said piston and controllable from the exterior of the container to shift the piston in one direction, and means within the container at the other end thereof connected with said piston and controllable from the exterior of the container to shift the piston in the opposite direction.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, drum mechanism at each end of said cylinder connected by cable with said piston, actuating means at the exsaid cylinder for each drum mechanism, and means for, releasing one drum mechanism from its actuating mechanism when the other drum is to be operated by its actuating mechanism v V 11. In a fire extinguisher of the class described, the combination of a cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a cable drum at each end of the cylinder and each connected with the piston by a cable, and means for operating the drums to shift the piston accordingly.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cylinder having a discharge outlet, a piston within the cylinder, a

a container, a

released.

described, the combination of a container, a piston therein, a drum between said piston and one end of the container, :1 ring encircling thejdrum, a sheave-way on the piston, a cable passing through said sheave-way and having one end connected to the drum and its other end connected to said ring, said ring being in the path of the accumulating turns on said drum whereby said ring will be shifted to exert pull on one end of the cable to assist shifting of the piston when the cable is wound on the drum, and means for operating said drum.

14. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container, a piston therein, actuatmg mechanism within the container having connection with the piston, driving mechanism for the actuating mechanism operable f0m the exterior of the container, said container having an opening, a plug for said opening, means controlled by said plug to lock the driving mechanism in driving relation with the actuating mechanism when the plug is inserted and for disconnecting the driving mechanism from the actuating mechanism when the plug is withdrawn.

15.,In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container having a detachable discharge nozzle, a piston within the container, actuating mechanism connected with the piston to effect shift thereof, driving the actuating mechanism,

13. Ina fire extinguisher of the class mechanism for and means adapted when the nozzle is applied to the container to automatically effect driving relation between the driving mechanism and the actuating mechanism and adapted when the nozzle is disconnected to automatically effect separation of the driving mechanism and the actuating mechanism.

16. In a fire extinguisher of the class described, the combination of a container, an ejecting piston within said container, a drum within said container, a sheave-way on said piston, a cable passing through said sheave-way having one end secured to the drum to be wound thereon, an abutment member secured to the other end of the cable and disposed in the path of the accumulatlng cable turns en es id drum when the drum is turned whereby positive pull will be exerted on both ends of the cable during winding of the drum, and means for operating said drum.

17. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a cylinder and an ejecting piston therein, a cap for one end of the cylinder and piston actuating mechanism localized and supported therein, a cap for the other end of the cylinder and piston restoring mechanism localized and supported therein, both caps being detachably secured to the cylinder.

18. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a cylinder, a detachable nozzle at one end of said cylinder, an ejecting piston within said cylinder, mechanism within the cylinder adjacent the nozzle having connection with the piston, an actuating member at the exterior of the cylinder having detachable connection with said mechanism within the cylinder, and means controlled by the application and removal of said nozzle for controlling the connection and disconnection of the actuating member with the mechanism within the cylinder.

19. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel, a piston reciprocable therein, a drum within the barrel and a cable extending therefrom and secured to the piston, actuating mechanism extending into the barrel from the exterior thereof and normally connected with the drum to effect rotation of the drum to draw the piston toward the drum, means for separating the drum and actuating means whereby the drum may r0- tate independently, and means for shifting the piston away from the drum after such separation.

20. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel, a piston reciprocable therein, a drum within the barrel and a cable extending therefrom and secured to the piston, ac-

tuating mechanism extending into the barrel and normally connected with the drum to elfect rotation thereof to draw the piston toward the drum, means for effecting bodily displacement of the drum and release there of from the actuating mechanism, and means for shifting the piston away from the drum when the drum is thus displaced.

21. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel, a piston reciprocable therein, a drum within the barrel and a cable extending therefrom and secured to the piston, a bodily displaceable supporting frame for the drum, actuating mechanism extending into the barrel from the exterior, means normally holding the frame in position to connect the drum with the actuating mechanism and adapted to release the frame to allow displacement thereof to disconnect the drum from the actuating mechanism, and means for restoring the piston after separation of the drum and actuating mechanism.

22. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a barrel, a piston reciprocable therein, a drum at one end of the barrel and a cable ex tending therefrom and connected with the piston, actuating mechanism at the exterior of the drum, speed reducing mechanism between said actuating mechanism and drum adapted to cause slow and powerful movement of the drum and corresponding movement of the piston, and restoring means at the other end of the barrel connected with the piston and adapted to cause rapid restoring movement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed the foregoing specification.

AUGIE L. HANSEN.

Witnesses C. M. BAUMEISTER, V. C. LINDSTROM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

